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History(1920～1979)

History

History(1920～1979)

1970-

1979/11

06

·Cumulative production reaches 10 million vehicles.

02

·Cumulative exports to North America reach 1 million vehicles.

01

·New company symbol is adopted.

1978/10

·Fully redesigns Capella.

03

·Introduces Savanna RX-7 (RX-7). The Savanna RX-7 was developed under the simple theme of "pursuit of driving pleasure." Its 12A two-rotor rotary engine (130 hp) was mounted in a front-midship layout that enabled the RX-7 to exhibit outstanding handling stability. The Savanna RX-7 was the only Japanese car at the time to feature popup headlights, which reduced air resistance. It came in a range of five exterior body colors and featured a T-shaped instrument panel, a large, highly-visible three-ring meter cluster and bucket seats. Measuring 4,285mm (overall length) x 1,675mm (overall width) x 1,260mm (overall height), it had room for four occupants and managed a turning circle of 4.8 meters. The five-speed manual transmission model recorded a quarter mile (400m) time of 15.8 seconds and a top speed of 180km/h. The price range included 1,230,000 yen for the Custom model, 1,370,000 yen for the Super Custom, 1,440,000 yen for the GT, and 1,690,000 yen for the Limited grade (an automatic transmission cost an extra 40,000 yen).

1978/01

·Cumulative production reaches 1 million units for rotary-engine cars.

03

1972/12

10

1971/12

1971/09

·Introduces Savanna (RX-3).

08

·Introduces Mazda Titan.

02

·Establishes Mazda Motor of America (MMA). ·Begins local production in Indonesia.

1970/11

·Kouhei Matsuda becomes president.

1970/05

·Capella (RX-2) is introduced. Mazda developed the Capella as a sporty saloon to fill the gap in its lineup between the Familia and the Luce. There were two body types, a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan, and two engines, a two-rotor 12A rotary engine (120 horsepower) and a 1,600cc reciprocating engine (100 horsepower). The Capella quickly became popular and earned the nickname, "Kaze no Capella" or "Capella, the Wind," thanks to its 190km/h top speed. In October 1970, the lineup was expanded with a smaller displacement 1,500cc reciprocating engine (92 horsepower), and in January 1971, the Capella became the first rotary-engined vehicle to be offered with an automatic transmission (REmatic). The range was further expanded with a dedicated sport model, the Coupe GS, in February. The ride height of the Coupe GS was 40mm lower than the standard versions, which helped the Capella Coupe GS to take the fight to the mighty Skyline GT-R on the racetracks of Japan.

03

1960-

1969/10

04

·Begins full-scale exports of rotary engine vehicles.

1968/09

·Begins local assembly of passenger cars in Malaysia.

07

·Establishes sales company in Canada.

1967/11

·Fully redesigns Mazda 1000/1200.

05

·Introduces Mazda Cosmo Sports (110S), Mazda's first rotary engine vehicle. The Cosmo Sport, a two-seat sports car that cost 1,480,000 yen, was powered by a 491cc x 2 two-rotor rotary engine that generated 110 horsepower. It achieved a maximum speed of 185km/h and a quarter mile (400m) time of 16.3 seconds. In the following year, power was upgraded to 128 horsepower, maximum speed to 200km/h, and its quarter mile time to 15.8 seconds. The price of the new version was 1,580,000 yen.

1963/10

1963/06

03

1962/02

1962/01

·Begins local assembly in South Korea.

1961/08

·Introduces B-series 1500 compact pickup.

07

·Enters into technical cooperation with NSU/ Wankel (formerly in West Germany) on rotary engine.

1960/05

·Introduces R360 Coupe, first Mazda 2-door passenger car. The R360 Coupe had four seats and was powered by a 356cc air-cooled 16-horsepower engine. Thanks to comprehensive weight savings, it achieved fuel economy of 32km/liter. The model range included a version with an automatic transmission. At just 300,000 yen, the R360 Coupe brought the dream of owning a car within the reach of salaried workers, and in December 1960 alone, 4,090 units were bought by eager customers.

1940-

1949/08

1945/08

·Mazda loans part of headquarters building to Hiroshima prefecture and all functions of the prefecture office are transferred there (until July '46).

1930-

Corporate History

Product History

1935/10

·Caravan of three-wheeled trucks from Kagoshima to Tokyo (advertising campaign). As part of a marketing campaign in 1936, four Mazda-go Type-KC36 trucks and one Mazda-go Type-DC took part in a caravan from Kagoshima to Tokyo. These hardy trucks covered 2,700 kilometers in 25 days, and the event proved so successful that it sparked a boom in similar events.

1935/10

·Production of rock drills and gauge blocks begins.

1932

·Begins export with 3-wheel trucks for China.

1931/10

·Three-wheel truck production starts. Mazda's first production vehicle was a three-wheeled truck called the Mazda-go. In 1931, 66 units were built. Mitsubishi's triple-diamond logo can be seen on the fuel tank because, until 1936, Mazda vehicles were marketed through the Mitsubishi Corporation's sales network.

1930/09

·New plant constructed in Hiroshima (Aki-gun, Fuchu-cho). The site where the plant was built in Fuchu-cho, near Hiroshima city, was originally a salt farm.